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Title: In situ sulfiding of Ni-W hydrocracking catalysts : differentiation of different preparation procedures using EXAFS and HRTEM.

Journal Article · · J. Catal.

The detailed structural characterization of the metal function of two fully formulated Ni-W hydrocracking catalysts was investigated by time resolved in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS and XANES) at both the Ni K-edge and W L{sub 3}-edge, and by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. These two hydrocracking catalysts (designated as HCA and HCB) contained the same wt% of Ni and W, the same wt% of the other constituents ({gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/silico-aluminate), and were calcined at the same temperature, but were prepared by different methods in order to highlight the sensitivity of the characterization techniques to the structural differences. The morphology of the WS{sub 2} particles in the sulfided catalyst is substantially different between the two catalysts: in the HCA catalyst there are many more particles with multiple WS{sub 2} layers whereas in HCB there are more single layers. The average diameter of the WS{sub 2} plates is similar in both. The catalysts show a difference in the amount of W sulfidation after the 410 C sulfidation treatment in 10% H{sub 2}S/H{sub 2}. The W of HCA catalyst was completely sulfided whereas 16% W of HCB catalyst was unsulfided. Similarly there is a difference in the amount of sulfided Ni: 16% Ni in HCA and 60% Ni in HCB remain unsulfided. In the sulfided form of both catalysts the Ni exists in three different morphologies: oxidized Ni (six-fold coordinate as a nickel aluminate), nanoparticulate Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2}, and Ni decorating the edge sites of the WS{sub 2}. In both the Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2}, and Ni decorating the edge sites of the WS{sub 2}, the Ni is in a tetrahedral coordination with sulfur. In both catalysts the sulfidation of the Ni and W occurs essentially simultaneously over most of the temperature range and the sulfidation of the W proceeds through the same tungsten oxysulfide in both samples. The characterization methodology presented here is a powerful one for elucidating the structural differences of complex heterogeneous catalysts.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
973478
Report Number(s):
ANL/XSD/JA-60869; JCTLA5; TRN: US201006%%422
Journal Information:
J. Catal., Vol. 263, Issue 2009; ISSN 0021-9517
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH